JAKARTA: Indonesians who have joined fellow extremists fighting in Syria could help reinvigorate a once-powerful militant group responsible for major bombings in the world's most populous Muslim country, a report said.

"The conflict in Syria has captured the imagination of Indonesian extremists in a way no foreign war has before," said a report by Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict published this week.

It is a change of pattern for Indonesian militants who previously have gone to Afghanistan in the late 1980s and 1990s mainly for training, or to the Palestinian territories to give moral and financial support to fellow Muslims, the report said.

"The enthusiasm for Syria is directly linked to predictions in Isla­mic eschatology that the final battle at the end of time will take place in Sham, the region sometimes called Greater Syria, or the Levant, encompassing Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel," the report added.

This notion has attracted Indo­nesians from different radical streams to go or try to go to Syria, including the Jemaah Islamiyah, or JI, a group responsible for the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali which killed 202 people, mostly foreigners.

After the 2002 attack, a government crackdown that either killed or jailed JI's leaders has crippled the group and attacks carried by it or its splinter groups have been smaller.

Some of the JI leaders have now taken to non-violent activities such as preachin and inviting criticism from other militant groups.

However, the report warned that the Syrian conflict had convinced many extremists that their local jihad should be set aside for now to devote energy to the more important one abroad, like many JI leaders have argued.

Despite JI's decline "if the Syrian conflict helps both JI's fund-raising ability as well as its own recruitment, and if domestic political situation should take a turn for the worse, that calculus could change. No one should rule JI out of future actions," the report said.

The report quoted the Indonesian foreign ministry as estimating there were 50 Indonesians among the 8,000 foreign fighters from 74 countries involved in the Syrian conflict.

JI's humanitarian wing, Hilal Ah­mar Society Indonesia, sent 10 delegations to Syria carrying cash and medical assistance to the Islamist resistance in an effort to open channels for more direct participation in the fighting, the report said. — AFP

Held 11 days before Chinese New Year, the mood was festive and many women wore qipao (traditional Chinese dresses), whereas the men were dressed either in suits or batik.

Aside from Chinese New Year, the organisation had much to celebrate.

It is now a widely respected mass organisation with membership numbering in the tens of thousands, spread over 280 branches across the country's 30 provinces.

The organisation has also come a long way since its inception during the aftermath of the May 1998 tragedy in Jakarta, when many Chinese-Indonesians experienced various miseries as they became the targets of angry masses.

The Chinese were placed under an "assimilation" policy throughout the 33 years of the New Order era from 1966 to 1998. This policy banned the expression of Chinese language and culture in the public sphere. Chinese New Year was only allowed to be celebrated in the private domain and all Chinese-medium schools were closed.

While the restrictions may have been seen as a way to deflect unwanted attention from members of the Chinese community, many of those who became the victims of violence during the 1965 coup attempt blamed the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), so the policy also reflected widespread government suspicion regarding the Chinese community's role in the uprising.

The Chinese dutifully closed their schools and organisations, except for funeral homes and religious associations.

Most chose to stay out of the political spotlight and concentrated on the one area in which they were allowed to be involved – the economy.

Therefore, despite the restrictions, which caused a whole generation of Chinese-Indonesians to experience a loss of Chinese language and culture, many of them flourished in the economic realm.

Nonetheless, they again became scapegoats during the Asian monetary crisis of 1997 and the downfall of the Soeharto regime in May 1998.

Noted sociologist Mely G. Tan observed that the 1998 riots jolted the Chinese out of their compliance and precipitated the founding of mass organisations such as PSMTI and the Indonesian Chinese Association (INTI), which aimed to combat all sorts of discrimination.

When the discriminatory policies against Chinese language and culture were lifted, these organisations shifted their focus to help fellow Indonesians in times of need – especially those affected by natural disasters.

Other organisations based on common dialect groups, such as the Fu Qing and Hakka associations, have also contributed huge amounts of funding to the building of schools for non-Chinese children.

The PSMTI and INTI, for example, have pooled resources to provide disaster aid to victims of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the recent flooding.

Contrary to the prevailing belief that Chinese-Indonesian organisations only attract the older generations, the youth wings of these organisations often initiate the efforts to distribute help and basic necessities to the needy. At the time of writing, PSMTI volunteers were channelling resources to help flood victims all over Indonesia, especially in locations with large numbers of disadvantaged people such as Tangerang, Banten.

These examples are necessary to debunk the stereotype that the Chinese are exclusive.

At the installation of the new PSMTI leaders, Ahok reminded members to continue contributing to their country. Known as a straight-shooter who does not mince words, Ahok also stated that Chinese-Indonesians who hope to win a place as legislators in the upcoming elections must not count on winning based on the support of their ethnic community, nor on policies that benefit the Chinese.

They should, instead, focus on putting together a political agenda that will benefit all Indonesians.

Coming from the first ethnic Chinese person to become a deputy governor of Jakarta, this is a wise piece of advice.

As the nation celebrates Chinese New Year on Jan 31, we must be mindful of our country's multicultural, multifaceted sociological make-up, framed by our understanding and appreciation of our historical past, as well as what our founding fathers have long recognised as Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

> The writer lectures on Cultural Studies and Communications at the University of Indonesia. She also writes on and researches various facets of the ethnic Chinese population in Indonesia. Her current research topic focuses on Chinese-Indonesians' political activism.

Bangkok (AFP) - Polls opened Sunday for tense elections in Thailand with opposition demonstrators preventing voting in parts of the country, a day after a gunfight between rival protesters in Bangkok raised fears of more violence.

The snap poll was called by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in an unsuccessful attempt to quell rising tensions in the nation, which has seen three months of sometimes bloody rallies aimed at toppling her government.

Protesters want the election delayed by a year or more so an unelected "people's council" can implement vaguely-defined reforms to expunge the influence of Yingluck's divisive brother Thaksin -- a former premier ousted in a 2006 coup that unleashed a cycle of political unrest in the country.

Voting could not go ahead in 45 out of the nation's 375 constituencies because of the actions of anti-government protesters, authorities said.

In the south, a stronghold of the anti-government movement, protesters stopped post offices from distributing ballot sheets and boxes to polling stations in 42 constituencies, said Election Commission secretary general Puchong Nutrawong.

In Bangkok polls were unable to be held in at least three constituencies, including in Lak Si -- the scene of a dramatic gun battle between pro-and anti-government protesters on Saturday which left at least seven people wounded.

But in some areas of the capital voting appeared to start without disruption by the opposition protesters, who have occupied key intersections in the city for a fortnight in a self-styled "shutdown" aimed at intensifying pressure on Yingluck's caretaker government.

Yingluck was among the early voters, casting her ballot in front of the media at a polling station in the capital.

At another polling station in the city's historic district, a trickle of voters turned out early Sunday watched over by a handful of police, according to AFP reporter at the scene.

"I did my duty today as I came to vote -- it's my right," said Pui, 43, giving one name.

"This year the election is chaotic," he added.

Clashes on Saturday night raised fears of more violence around the polls, with emotions running high on both sides of the political divide.

"It is very very important for leaders of both sides to completely reject violence... We cannot afford more casualties in Thailand," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch.

At least 10 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes, grenade attacks and drive-by shootings since the opposition rallies began.

Each side in the bitterly divided kingdom routinely blames the other for the violence.

The backdrop to the unrest is a long-running political struggle pitting Thailand's royalist establishment -- backed by the courts and the military -- against Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon-turned-politician who lives in Dubai to avoid a prison term for graft.

The recent violence is the worst political bloodshed in the kingdom since 2010 when protests by pro-Thaksin "Red Shirts" left more than 90 dead and nearly 1,900 injured in clashes and a military crackdown.

The elite-backed opposition Democrat Party -- which has not won an elected majority in around two decades -- is boycotting the vote.

This leaves the field open for Yingluck, who is expected to win the polls helped by strong electoral support among rural and urbanised communities from Thaksin's northeastern heartlands.

But disruption by demonstrators to candidate registrations means that if Yingluck wins she will still remain in a caretaker role with limited power over government policy until by-elections are held to ensure there are enough MPs to convene parliament.

Election officials have warned that the result may not be known for months because of problems caused by the protests.

Advance voting in parts of the country, including Bangkok, on January 26 was marred by blockades by opposition protesters who stopped hundreds of thousands of people from casting ballots.

Authorities said Saturday they were boosting security around the polls, with both police and soldiers on the capital's streets.

But the government has so far appeared reluctant to use force against the protesters, despite declaring a state of emergency last month. - AFP

Pull up a chair and grab a packet of groundnuts – there's so much to watch this Chinese New Year.

BETWEEN countdown concerts and blockbusters, there are many exciting TV programmes lined up for this Lunar New Year. Here's a rundown of what to watch:

First day

OneRepublic In Moscow

(iConcerts HD, HyppTV Ch 603, 2pm)

This "Front Row Centre Series" displays Grammy-nominated OneRepublic's boundless energy as they offer rousing performances of their biggest hits. From Apologize and Say (All I Need) to Stop And Stare and Mercy, the band perfectly blends pop and rock in these tracks off of their debut CD, Dreaming Out Loud.

House Of Fury

(ntv7, Astro Ch 107 / HyppTV Ch 107, 3.32pm)

Former secret agent Teddy Yu is a chiropractor who thought he left his past behind him. He teaches his two kids martial arts, but his past soon catches up with him when a rogue agent demands to know the whereabouts of Dragon, another agent. Together with his children, Yu must work to stop this rogue agent. Starring Stephen Fung, Gillian Chung, Anthony Wong and Daniel Wu.

CZ12

(Wah Lai Toi, Astro Ch 311 & Zhi Zun HD, Astro Ch 310, 8pm)

Mercenary team leader Asian Hawk is on his final mission where he has to recover 12 bronze statue heads of the Chinese Zodiac from Old Summer Palace. Hawk, assisted by a Chinese student and a Parisian lady, will stop at nothing to collect the missing artifacts which were looted by foreigners in the 1800s. The cast includes Jackie Chan, Kwon Sang-woo, Liao Fan, Yao Xing Tong, Zhang Lan Xin and Laura Weissbecker.

Spring Chorus

(ntv7, 8.30pm)

The homegrown ntv7 Chinese New Year production revolves around the life of an elderly man who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His five children then unite to help their ailing father recall his memories using music therapy. The two-hour telemovie blends comedy, music, drama, love and family ties in a compelling storyline. Cast includes Leslie Chai, Debbie Goh, Ong Ai Leng, Kyo Chen and Adrian Tan.

Let The Bullets Fly

(TV2, Astro Ch 102 / HyppTV Ch 102, 10pm)

Set in warlord-infested China in 1919, the film tells the tale of a bandit who poses as the governor of a small town. Soon, he finds himself at odds with a local mobster who is obviously bent on protecting his turf. A violent series of mind games – both complex and deadly – ensues between the two crooks, sometimes with hilarious results. Stars Jiang Wen, Chow Yun-Fat, Carina Lau, Ge You, Chen Kun and Zhou Yun.

The Sorcerer And The White Snake

(TV3, Astro Ch 103 / HyppTV Ch 103, 10pm)

A naive young herbalist falls in love with a thousand-year-old White Snake disguised as a woman, but a sorcerer discovers her true identity and battles to save the man's soul. Mayhem ensues in this epic battle of supernatural powers. Action director Ching Siu-Tung helms this fantasy film based on a Chinese legend. Cast includes Jet Li, Huang Sheng Yi, Raymond Lam, Charlene Choi and Wen Zhang.

Wu Xia

(8TV, Astro Ch 708 / HyppTV Ch 108, 10pm)

Liu Jin-xi (Donnie Yen), a village craftsman, has his quiet life irreversibly shattered when two notorious gangsters arrive at the local store. Having single-handedly defeated the troublesome duo, Liu comes under investigation by a detective who is convinced that the shy hero has been trained in martial arts by one of the region's most vicious clans. In the process, he inadvertently draws the attention of the Chinese underworld. This Peter Chan flick also stars Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tang Wei.

Our Idiot Brother

(Sundance Channel HD, Astro Ch 438, 11.30pm)

While Ned Rochlin may be that sibling who hasn't gotten his life together yet (having been incarcerated and then kicked off his farm by his ex-girlfriend), he is still somehow perennially upbeat. Rochlin's sisters Liz, Miranda and Natalie may consider him the "idiot brother", but when he moves into their homes (and lives!), they come to realise that Ned really isn't such an idiot after all. Stars Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Mortimer.

Second day

Back To The Streets S2

(Asian Food Channel, Astro Ch 703, 12.00pm)

Watching chef Malcolm Goh mark his students' papers is not Malaysian radio DJ Tham Zher Peen's idea of a good time, so she entices him away from work with promises of a delicious Chinese New Year feast! They head to Restoran Lee Hong Kee – with Goh dressed as the god of fortune! – and enjoy a meal of poon choi and lap mei fan. Goh enjoys the rice dish the most, and so he decides to use it as his inspiration for the dish of the week.

Once Upon A Time

(Wah Lai Toi, Astro Ch 311 / Zhi Zun HD, Astro Ch 310, 1.30pm)

Six thousand years ago, when the Emperor was the sole ruler of the kingdom, many poor people were unhappy as they were bullied by the rich. One day, a rebellious group attacks the palace to overthrow the Emperor. The devoted Prime Minister, Lord Turtle, pushes the Emperor, Eunuch Tok and Yu-Fa into a forbidden room to protect them. They are whisked off to the future … to the year 2013! Hilarious encounters ensue as the three of them try to find a way back to their era. This Malaysian-made movie stars Jack Lim, Gan Mei Yan, Vivian Tok, Jeff Chin and Royce Tan.

TVB 46th Anniversary Gala

(Wah Lai Toi & Zhi Zun HD, 4pm)

This star-studded gala may very well be the biggest party that TVB has ever hosted! Veteran artists Liza Wang, Eric Tsang, Carol Cheng and Nat Chan, together with other stars like Wayne Lai, Kenneth Ma, Linda Chung, Raymond Lam, Myolie Wu, Moses Chan and more make an appearance! The two-and-a-half-hour show features dance and acrobatic performances, a magic show, a soccer segment as well as musical collaborations.

The Medallion

(TV2, Astro Ch 102 / HyppTV Ch 102, 10pm)

A Hong Kong detective, who suffers from a fatal accident, gets a new lease on life thanks to a mysterious medallion. Little does he know that it has also given him superhuman powers and immortality! First, he must protect this medallion from falling into the clutches of the wrong people. The cast includes Jackie Chan, Lee Evans, Claire Forlani, Julian Sands and Christy Chung.

Sally Is Ultimately Yours Concert 2012

(Wah Lai Toi & Zhi Zun HD, 10pm)

Semi-retired Cantopop diva Sally Yeh made her glorious comeback to the stage in September 2012 with a series of concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum, where she was a fixture back in the 1990s. With Sally's heartfelt love songs and groovy dance numbers, the highly anticipated concerts brought back many memories for her fans.

The Conmen in Vegas

(SCM Legend SEA, HyppTV Ch 226, 10pm)

King, the king of gamblers, along with his buddy Skinny Dragon and Dragon's cousin, Smarty, swindle a huge amount of money from the wicked Big Eye Man's underground casino. Somehow, before they can enjoy the money, Man's gang shows up unexpectedly and takes the trio off to meet with senior government officials. They are then enlisted to capture a conman in Las Vegas! Andy Lau, Alex Man and Kelly Lin star in this Wong Jing film.

Rooftop

(AEC, Astro Ch 301, 10.30pm)

The young Gao lives in a unique neighborhood located on the rooftop of a row of buildings. It may be considered a slum by many, but for Gao, it is a home filled with much warmth. Gao works in a traditional medicine hall with two other friends. They often get into fights with Hong, the notorious neighbourhood bully. A love story unfolds when they save Xin, a famous actress, but the vengeful bully could spoil things for them. Stars Jay Chou (pic), Eric Tsang, Xu Fan, Li Xin'ai, Alan Ko and Wang Xueqi.

Running around and 'fighting' in action dramas has helped Chi McBride open up a new career path.

American actor Chi (pronounced "shy") McBride lost 28kg over the past five years partly because he took on a string of action-heavy TV roles. Best known as the imposing high school principal in TV drama Boston Public (2000 to 2004), he played a detective in action series Human Target (2010) and Golden Boy (2013).

Now, the 52-year-old joins the fourth and latest season of hit series Hawaii Five-0 as SWAT captain Lou Grover, a role that requires plenty of running around, gun shoot-outs and fist fights.

Speaking over the telephone recently from his home in Los Angeles, he says: "I've dropped 62lbs (28kg) in the last five years and that's amazing. I did it to stay alive. I was 48 years old and my doctors asked me, 'Didn't you have enough pizza?'

"So I decided I was going to change the way I live my life. Then I got to do action roles and that has just been so great."

This has opened a whole new career path for him. "Doing action lengthens your career a bit. Action is something that people haven't normally seen me do, I'm really grateful for it," he says.

McBride, who is married with three sons aged six to 33, started out in music, releasing a single in 1989, He's The Champ, which spoofed the marriage between boxer Mike Tyson and his then-wife actress Robin Givens. He also released an album as part of R&B group Covert but it failed to take off.

He then turned to acting at age 30, doing a guest role in hit TV series The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1992) and a supporting bit in the movie Revenge Of The Nerds III: The Next Generation (1992).

He has since acted in more than 30 films and 28 TV series, including the film Mercury Rising (1998) starring Bruce Willis and TV dramas Pushing Daisies (2007 to 2009) and The Nine (2006 to 2007).

But it was his part as school principal Steven Harper in Boston Public, about a fictional public high school, that earned him a nomination for Individual Achievement In Drama at the Television Critics Association Awards in 2001.

While he enjoyed all his roles, he says there are none that he wishes could have lasted longer. "I'm not really sentimental like that. If you don't understand the concept that things end, you are going to be doing a lot of drinking. You know what I mean?"

Were you a fan of the original Hawaii Five-O series that aired from 1968 to 1980?

Yes, absolutely. I grew up watching it and loved it. I was working on other shows when the new Hawaii Five-0 came out, so I didn't have a chance to watch it. But after I was approached about joining it, I watched the older episodes on DVD. They were full of action, and very interesting and exciting.

What was it like being the new guy on an established show?

I love working with the cast. I've known (actor) Scott Caan for many years and he's really fun to be around. Alex O'Loughlin and Scott and I also have a lot in common, and we'll smoke cigars and tell stories. I play golf with a lot of the production guys. And getting to shoot in Hawaii, that's been a blessing because there're so many things to do, whether it's golf or hiking or whatever. It's a balance of vocational life and private life as well.

Your character Lou Grover was featured on the original Hawaii Five-O and was played by Scott Brady. Did you feel any burden in keeping old and new fans of the show happy?

Not really, because oftentimes when you start worrying about things like that, you end up doing a caricature of a performance. All I can do is use whatever small talent I have and depend on the writing – and it's been really great. My job is to interpret what they write down on the page and I don't let anything else creep into my head.

Hawaii Five-0 features a multi-ethnic cast that includes Asian-American stars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park. Do you think the film and TV industry is more welcoming of diversity these days?

That depends on your definition of diversity. I think Hollywood is a business that cares only about one colour: green. If you can make money, they don't care what colour you are.

I never approached my job from the standpoint of my race because I've always had a lot of confidence in what I'm able to do as an actor, so I've never dealt with the diversity issue. Anyway, diversity is more than just a bunch of people who look different. If you put people who look different in the same place, all you have is a Benetton ad which is great if you want to sell a lot of sweaters. But diversity is much deeper than how people look or what their races are.

You have three sons in real life but in Hawaii Five-0, your character is the father of a little girl. Have you ever wished for a daughter?

I've been busting out Y chromosomes since 1980 and I'm glad I don't have any daughters because I have enough grey hairs as it is. The problem would be that she'd try to wrap me around her little finger and I'd pretty much let her, and it would just be a mess.

Bruce Willis told me that the first time somebody came over to take his daughter out on a date, he was sitting on the porch, cleaning his gun and he asked the guy, 'Hey kid, did you see Die Hard?' The kid goes 'Yeah' and he's like 'Alright then' and lets him walk away. I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that kind of business.

You started out in music before going into acting. Would you ever consider going back into music?

Hell, no. My record didn't go gold nor platinum – my record went plastic. I actually don't know anyone other than my family who even owns the record. I don't even have a copy of it.

If you work in the movie or TV business, your movie or TV show can be a hit or a flop, but you are still going to get paid. But you can make an album for a record company and if it is never coming out, then at the end of the day, they'll hand you a bill saying you owe them US$100,000. So, no thanks.

How would you like to be remembered?

I don't think about stuff like this because in 100 years, nothing will matter. But if I'm going to be remembered, I hope it's by the people who truly love and care for me. To be remembered for what kind of man I've been to my wife and what kind of father I've been to my children – that's what really matters. Everything else is bulls***.

I know plenty of people whom everyone loves and sends them fan mail, but their kids hate them. I'd rather have it the other way around. — The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network

IT'S a good kind of "too busy" right now for actress Elisabeth Moss. At the Sundance Film Festival for the world premieres of two films, Alex Ross Perry's Listen Up Philip and Charlie McDowell's The One I Love, she also has been making awards-season rounds for AMC's Mad Men as well as the miniseries Top Of The Lake, for which she recently won a Golden Globe.

Adding to her hectic schedule is the final-season production of Mad Men, in which Moss plays Peggy Olson, a meek secretary transformed into a self-possessed advertising executive. On the weekend of the Globes, she squeezed in an interview before getting the manicure that would become infamous when she cheekily flipped off the "mani-cam" of one network's red carpet coverage.

Having so many projects percolating at once could presumably leave her a little confused at times regarding just what she's supposed to be talking about.

"It was a little discombobulating, but it just takes a second," she said, noting how on consecutive days she went to events for Top Of The Lake, Mad Men, this interview for her two Sundance films, then the Globes for Top Of The Lake and back to work on Mad Men.

"It is funny. You do have to stop for a minute, 'What is this about?' Just watch, I'll end up telling you a bunch of Peggy stuff."

Both roles at Sundance capture the shifting mix of steely determination and soft vulnerability that is something of Moss' stock in trade. In Listen Up Philip, Moss plays Ashley, a New York City photographer who breaks up with her novelist boyfriend, Philip, played by Jason Schwartzman. The film's unusual structure, with a literary narration read by Eric Bogosian, finds Ashley leaving the story for a spell but then reemerging as the focus of an emotional storyline all her own.

At first, writer-director Perry was looking for a more outwardly comedic actress for the part to play off Schwarztman's deadpan timing, but when the idea of Moss came up, he realised, "That's going to make for a more interesting film. It's not who can spar comedically with Jason; it's who can run laps around Philip. And she's it."

Perry added that though he didn't immediately see Moss in the part, he quickly came around to it.

"Just seeing her in a New York movie in Brooklyn wearing shorts and being kind of fun and bitchy, it became really exciting to me," he said. "That's an easy role to assume requires no acting, 'Oh, she's just playing a normal person.' But it's quite the opposite. She found so much to create within that character."

For The One I Love, Moss plays one half of a couple, alongside costar Mark Duplass, who are sent on a weekend retreat by their therapist. The story features something of a spoiler-able twist everyone seems to be likening to Charlie Kaufman for its cerebral absurdity. It can make talking about the film tricky, and Moss recalled a conversation she had with director Charlie McDowell about just that.

"For eight years I have not talked about Mad Men," she said, referring to the closely guarded secrecy of the show. "I asked Charlie how to talk about the movie and he said, 'Maybe say this and this,' and I was like, 'I got this.' I know how to talk about something without talking about it.

"What attracted me to the movie was the relationship aspects of it," she added. "The concept behind the quote-unquote twist is the idea of who you present in a relationship, how you project one person in the beginning and then kind of shift to something else, maybe more who you really are. And then what's considered the ideal woman from a man's point of view and what he really wants his girlfriend to be like."

Even with the film's more secretly fantastic elements, Moss kept the performance grounded in something believable and real.

"She just feels like a real person to me," said McDowell. "And I really discovered this after working with her; she's just the most present actor I've ever seen. She really dedicates herself to what she's doing in the most naturalistic way. There's never a moment that feels phony or false to me."

With her various projects, Moss has shown it won't take much for her to shake off Peggy Olson once Mad Men is done. For any fans of the show hoping that Moss might accidentally spill some tidbit about the ultimate fate of her character, she is perhaps not the one to ask.

"I actually don't any have idea. A couple of pieces here and there, but I don't know how we're going to get there," she said. "The bigger ideas I don't even know."

What comes after Mad Men for Moss remains to be decided.

"I'm just starting to look seriously," she said. "For me, I'm now available in a way I haven't been for eight years. I'm looking forward to the idea that when I'm done in June, I don't have to find something for the next few months. If I don't find something right away, that's OK. But just watch, I don't get anything ever again and I'm like, 'I wish I was back on Mad Men.'" — Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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PATTANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim rebels in southern Thailand killed three soldiers and a district election official in a bomb attack on Sunday as a general election was being held around the country.

Police said the violence was not related to the election that has divided Thailand, with anti-government protesters and the main opposition Democrat Party opposing the vote.

Jatra Promkaew, an election official in Pattani province, was killed along with three soldiers after gunmen fired shots at a security checkpoint and set off three bombs, police said.

"Four people died in an attack carried out by a group of around 20 insurgents," Pattani chief of police Phot Suaysuwan told Reuters. "The attack was related to ongoing violence in the southern provinces and unrelated to the election."

Thailand went to vote under heavy security on Sunday in an election that could push the country deeper into political turmoil.

Ten people have died and at least 577 have been wounded in politically related violence since late November.

Voting was going smoothly in the predominantly Muslim southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, said national security chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr.

Thailand is a mainly Buddhist country and resistance to central government rule in the Muslim-majority provinces has existed for decades, resurfacing violently in 2004.

The opening of peace talks with rebel groups last year has done nothing to end violence in the south, where more than 5,700 people have died since January 2004.

The three provinces were once part of a Malay Muslim sultanate before being annexed by Thailand in 1909. Muslims in the area largely oppose the presence of tens of thousands of soldiers and armed Buddhist guards in the region.

KABUL (Reuters) - Presidential candidates in Afghanistan begin two months of campaigning on Sunday for an election that Western allies hope will consolidate fragile stability as their forces prepare to leave after nearly 13 years of inconclusive war.

The Taliban have rejected the April 5 election and have already stepped up attacks to sabotage it. The militants will also be looking to capitalise if the vote is marred by rigging and feuding between rivals seeking to replace President Hamid Karzai, who can not run for a third term under Afghan law.

Whoever replaces him will inherit a country beset by deepening anxiety about security as most foreign troops prepare to pull out by the end of the year, leaving Afghan forces largely on their own to battle the insurgency.

Monthly attacks in the capital, Kabul, where candidates are expect to focus their efforts to win over women and young people, are at the highest since 2008, one embassy said in a recent confidential security report.

"This increase can be attributed to efforts towards the presidential elections," the embassy said.

Many Afghans say they are taking precautions.

"I have already advised my family to cut down unnecessary travel and never attend any big meetings," said Fawad Saleh, a barber in the Shar-e Naw area of Kabul. "The Taliban will reach any campaign and they will react violently."

While Afghanistan has no majority community, ethnic Pashtuns are considered the largest community and ethnicity will play a big role in deciding the next president.

Western diplomats expect the first round to be split between one of several prominent Pashtuns and former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, an ethnic Tajik who appeals to that voter base and who was Karzai's main challenger in the last election in 2009.

Two of Abdullah's campaigners in western Herat province were shot dead in their car on Saturday, police officials said, in another grim pointer to the violence ahead.

CAMPAIGN BRINGS HOPE

The most ambitious efforts to conduct opinion polls, which were funded by the United States, have been cancelled over accusations Washington was seeking to manipulate the outcome.

But a first set of polling results in December put Western-leaning intellectual and ethnic Pashtun former finance minister Ashraf Ghani in the lead ahead of Abdullah.

In spite of the threat of Taliban attacks, the campaigning season will kick off on Sunday with the rival camps throwing lavish parties in Kabul hotels.

Afghan businessmen have welcomed the campaign as a signal the political process is moving forward. Uncertainty about the future helped drive a tumble of more than 10 percent in economic growth in 2013, according to the World Bank.

"Now there is a hope for me and for the people of Afghanistan," said Ismail Temorzada, who owns a carpet shop on Kabul's once busy Chicken Street. His last sale was eight months ago, he said.

But optimism remains clouded by Karzai's refusal to sign a bilateral deal to let a contingent of U.S. troops stay after 2014. If Washington pulls all of its troops, much of the aid that pays for most government and security is likely to dry up.

Widespread ballot-stuffing and wrangling marred the 2009 vote. Afghanistan's backers hope a country split along ethnic lines can accept the outcome as legitimate this time, even if the winner is not from the biggest community.

"The Pashtuns believe they have the right to the presidency because they are the most, and that's not good," said one Western diplomat.

(Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni; Writing by Jessica Donati; Editing by Maria Golovnina and Robert Birsel)

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand went to the polls under heavy security on Sunday in an election that could push the divided country deeper into political turmoil and leave the winner paralysed for months by street protests, legal challenges and legislative limbo.

Voting started peacefully a day after seven people were wounded by gunshots and explosions during a clash between supporters and opponents of embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a north Bangkok stronghold of her Puea Thai Party.

Voting was called off in the district and some other polling stations were unable to open because of pressure by anti-government protesters. Polling outside the capital and the south was unaffected.

"The situation overall is calm and we haven't received any reports of violence this morning," National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabutr told Reuters. "The protesters are rallying peacefully to show their opposition to this election."

The usual campaign billboards, glossy posters and pre-election buzz have been notably absent, as will be millions of voters fearful of violence or bent on rejecting a ballot bound to re-elect the political juggernaut controlled by Yingluck's billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin, 64, is loved and loathed in Thailand, but his parties have won every poll since 2001. His opponents say he is a corrupt crony capitalist who rules by proxy from self-exile in Dubai.

"We're not blocking the election. We're postponing it," said Nipon Kaewsook, 42, one of the hundreds of protesters blocking Ratchathewi District Office in central Bangkok to prevent the distribution of dozens of ballot boxes.

"We still need an election, but we need reform first," added Nipon, an English teacher from Phattalung in southern Thailand.

Protesters shouted "Yingluck get out!" and "Thaksin go to jail!" They took celebratory selfies in front of the ballot boxes, placed in a car park at the back of the building.

Victory celebrations for Yingluck would probably be muted. With parliamentary seats unable to be filled, she could find herself on shaky ground, exposed to legal attacks and unable to pass bills and budgets crucial to reviving a stuttering economy.

Yingluck last week refused to postpone the election, even though a fifth of those registered for advance voting were unable to cast ballots after protesters blocked polling stations in 49 of 50 Bangkok districts as part of a "shutdown" of key intersections. In 28 southern constituencies, no votes will be cast because no candidates could sign up.

The Election Commission says results will not be available on Sunday. Its commissioners are braced for a deluge of complaints and challenges to the results.

"There's been a lot of obstruction, so much, every single step of the way," commission secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong told Reuters.

"We don't want this election to be a bloody election. We can get every single agency involved to make this election happen, but if there's bloodshed, what's the point?"

INTRACTABLE CRISIS

Anti-government demonstrators say Thaksin subverted Thailand's fragile democracy by entrenching money politics and using taxpayers' money for generous subsidies, cheap healthcare and easy loans that have bought him loyalty from millions of working-class Thai voters in the north and northeast.

With broad support from Bangkok's middle class and tacit backing of the royalist establishment, old-money elite and military, the protesters reject the election and want to suspend democracy, replacing it with an appointed "people's council" to reform politics and erode Thaksin's influence.

The latest round of tumult in the eight-year political conflict erupted in November and underscored Thaksin's central role in the intractable struggle, both as hero and villain.

Yingluck was largely tolerated by Thaksin's opponents but her party miscalculated when it tried to introduce a blanket amnesty that would have nullified a graft conviction against Thaksin and allowed him to return home.

Many Thais see history repeating itself after a cycle of elections, protests and military or judicial interventions that have polarised the country and angered Thaksin's "red shirt" supporters, who held crippling blockades in 2010 and have vowed to defend his sister from any overthrow attempt.

Thailand's military has remained neutral so far, but the judiciary has taken on an unusually large number of cases in the past two months in response to complaints against Yingluck and Puea Thai that could result in the party's dissolution and lengthy bans for its top politicians.

There is also a chance the election could be annulled, as it was in 2006, over a technicality. The Election Commission is expecting lawsuits to be filed demanding the election be voided.

The main opposition Democrat Party is boycotting the poll and the commission has already voiced concerns that it would result in too few legitimately elected MPs to form a parliamentary quorum.

With no quorum to re-elect a prime minister, it looks likely Yingluck could be a caretaker premier for months. Even with a fresh mandate, a stalemate is almost certain, giving her opponents more time to intensify their campaign against her and for legal challenges to be lodged.

Surprise, surprise – the RoboCop reboot is a lot better than reboots have a right to be.

YOU can open your eyes now; it's safe. The RoboCop reboot is not the train wreck we feared – a natural feeling considering how bad and pointless reboots can get (stand up when we're talking about you, Total Recall 2012) – and is, in fact, quite an enjoyable outing.

Just so we're clear, it doesn't trump Paul Verhoeven's beloved original. It lacks the over-the-top violence, the wicked satire (it does make an effort though), the cool RoboCop lines and the overall sense of satisfaction that the original sent us out of the theatre with.

At the same time, it does manage to capture the pathos of poor Detroit PD detective Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman of TV's The Killing) and puts in enough new stuff to bring some freshness to a familiar story.

Director Jose Padilha, a Brazilian who has made two well-received crime dramas in his home country (the Elite Force films), manages to deliver some hard-edged action within the confines of the studio's desired PG-13 rating. So while this RoboCop is a little family-friendlier than the original, it is not completely sanitised to the point of being irrelevant.

'Hey, Weller, I got two words for ya – night ops. Not sure about the pale hand though.'

The setting for this reboot is not just a crime-plagued city of the near future (2028), but a country dead set against deploying robotic peace officers on the streets – robots that have been used quite successfully everywhere else in the world. ("Why is America so robo-phobic?" asks Samuel L. Jackson's clearly biased TV commentator Pat Novak, who provides most of the laughs and hit-or-miss attempts at social and political satire.)

As always, there's a sinister money-grubbing corporation working behind the scenes. OmniCorp craves the profits from having its robots policing the US$600bil-a-year US market, but Congress won't allow emotionless, unfeeling machines carrying weapons in American cities.

Enter Murphy, who is caught in a car-bomb blast set by the crime lord he is investigating. Murphy presents the ideal candidate for OmniCorp CEO Raymond Sellars' (Michael Keaton) requirements – a dedicated officer whose mind is still functioning and can, in theory, strike that balance of emotion and effectiveness as a robotic law enforcement officer.

Of course, the caveat about sticking a human mind in a machine is that you can never predict exactly how the darn thing's (by that, I mean the mind) going to react, and this throws a huge monkey wrench in OmniCorp's plans. Also proving to be a thorn in the side is Murphy's wife Clara (Abbie Cornish), not one to sit idly by while the company does questionable things to (what's left of) her husband.

'I was just looking at you hooked up to this rig like a collectible action figure, and the merchandising revenue potential sort of blew my mind.'

One of the good things this reboot does is to expand the role of the scientists involved in the project – namely Dr Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman) and his assistant Kim (Aimee Garcia) – and make them sympathetic, genuinely concerned characters. Not so sympathetic is OmniCorp's paramilitary goon Mattox (Jackie Earle Haley), who's probably closer to being this movie's Clarence Boddicker (a name fans of the original should be extremely familiar with) than the actual crime kingpin who blew up Murphy.

As the man in the metal, Kinnaman has some big shoes to fill. He gets the physical moves right and does some convincing emoting, especially in the disconcerting scene where Norton shows him just how much is left of the original Alex Murphy. A minor disappointment is the absence of the cool/high-impact lines that made Weller's original so memorable; though this is not a failing of the actor's so much as it is of the script, which gets a bit too verbose when it comes to RoboCop's dialogue. While I had my misgivings about it at first, the new black armour actually looks cool. And that bike ... whoa.

So the new RoboCop looks good, moves slickly through its 100-plus minutes, and is a suitably decent action flick to kick-start a whole new revival of the character. And as far as characer is concerned, Kinnaman and Padilha have got off the starting blocks strongly, making this Alex Murphy/RoboCop a sympathetic tragic hero that's just right for the times.

Surprise, surprise – the RoboCop reboot is a lot better than reboots have a right to be.

YOU can open your eyes now; it's safe. The RoboCop reboot is not the train wreck we feared – a natural feeling considering how bad and pointless reboots can get (stand up when we're talking about you, Total Recall 2012) – and is, in fact, quite an enjoyable outing.

Just so we're clear, it doesn't trump Paul Verhoeven's beloved original. It lacks the over-the-top violence, the wicked satire (it does make an effort though), the cool RoboCop lines and the overall sense of satisfaction that the original sent us out of the theatre with.

At the same time, it does manage to capture the pathos of poor Detroit PD detective Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman of TV's The Killing) and puts in enough new stuff to bring some freshness to a familiar story.

Director Jose Padilha, a Brazilian who has made two well-received crime dramas in his home country (the Elite Force films), manages to deliver some hard-edged action within the confines of the studio's desired PG-13 rating. So while this RoboCop is a little family-friendlier than the original, it is not completely sanitised to the point of being irrelevant.

'Hey, Weller, I got two words for ya – night ops. Not sure about the pale hand though.'

The setting for this reboot is not just a crime-plagued city of the near future (2028), but a country dead set against deploying robotic peace officers on the streets – robots that have been used quite successfully everywhere else in the world. ("Why is America so robo-phobic?" asks Samuel L. Jackson's clearly biased TV commentator Pat Novak, who provides most of the laughs and hit-or-miss attempts at social and political satire.)

As always, there's a sinister money-grubbing corporation working behind the scenes. OmniCorp craves the profits from having its robots policing the US$600bil-a-year US market, but Congress won't allow emotionless, unfeeling machines carrying weapons in American cities.

Enter Murphy, who is caught in a car-bomb blast set by the crime lord he is investigating. Murphy presents the ideal candidate for OmniCorp CEO Raymond Sellars' (Michael Keaton) requirements – a dedicated officer whose mind is still functioning and can, in theory, strike that balance of emotion and effectiveness as a robotic law enforcement officer.

Of course, the caveat about sticking a human mind in a machine is that you can never predict exactly how the darn thing's (by that, I mean the mind) going to react, and this throws a huge monkey wrench in OmniCorp's plans. Also proving to be a thorn in the side is Murphy's wife Clara (Abbie Cornish), not one to sit idly by while the company does questionable things to (what's left of) her husband.

'I was just looking at you hooked up to this rig like a collectible action figure, and the merchandising revenue potential sort of blew my mind.'

One of the good things this reboot does is to expand the role of the scientists involved in the project – namely Dr Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman) and his assistant Kim (Aimee Garcia) – and make them sympathetic, genuinely concerned characters. Not so sympathetic is OmniCorp's paramilitary goon Mattox (Jackie Earle Haley), who's probably closer to being this movie's Clarence Boddicker (a name fans of the original should be extremely familiar with) than the actual crime kingpin who blew up Murphy.

As the man in the metal, Kinnaman has some big shoes to fill. He gets the physical moves right and does some convincing emoting, especially in the disconcerting scene where Norton shows him just how much is left of the original Alex Murphy. A minor disappointment is the absence of the cool/high-impact lines that made Weller's original so memorable; though this is not a failing of the actor's so much as it is of the script, which gets a bit too verbose when it comes to RoboCop's dialogue. While I had my misgivings about it at first, the new black armour actually looks cool. And that bike ... whoa.

So the new RoboCop looks good, moves slickly through its 100-plus minutes, and is a suitably decent action flick to kick-start a whole new revival of the character. And as far as characer is concerned, Kinnaman and Padilha have got off the starting blocks strongly, making this Alex Murphy/RoboCop a sympathetic tragic hero that's just right for the times.

KUALA LUMPUR: Coinciding with the government's mission to reduce its electricity bill by five per cent, TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd aims to approach all government departments to deploy its energy-efficient solutions in their premises.

Speaking to Bernama, its Managing Director Mohd Azhar Abdul Rahman said the solutions required less energy usage but provided the same service, thus it could reduce government spending.

In December last year, the government announced that it would enforce 11 cost-cutting measures for the public sector this year in the wake of rising concerns over a spate of price increases, including the hike in electricity tariff.

Effective Jan 1, 2014, electricity tariff rate had increased by an average of about 14.89 per cent (4.99 sen per kilowatt) for Peninsular Malaysia, and by about 17 per cent (5.0 sen per kilowatt) for Sabah and Labuan.

Mohd Azhar said the company would not only help the government achieve its objectives, but the national utility corporation's unit would also tackle commercial and industrial buildings.

According to him, TNB Energy Services had started offering its services to public hospitals and it was expected to get the nod from the Education Ministry and the Melaka state government.

The company also wants Putrajaya and Iskandar Malaysia to use electricity efficient products in order to cut their electricity cost. "We are ready to help the government save on electricity cost, and we want to educate the public sector and all Malaysians to consume energy efficiently," he said.

With the savings on electricity cost using the energy-efficient solutions, he said both government and non-government buildings could use the money for other components such as raw materials and equipment.

One of the energy-efficient solutions is by replacing incandescent lamps with light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, which have longer lifespan and are several times better.

In educating Malaysians to have the right mindset on energy efficiency, TNB Energy Services had organised several awareness campaigns nationwide, which received positive response from the public.

Meanwhile, TNB Energy Services' Head of Engineering and Consultancy Services, Hamdan Ali, said currently an industrial building or factory can save up to 35 per cent in energy for pumps, 25 per cent for chillers, 20 per cent for cooling towers and 60 per cent for lighting system.

"All these can potentially help the company save up to RM10,000 or more in monthly electricity bills, depending on the size of the building," he said.

Hamdan added that although equipping a building with energy-efficient solutions might cost a considerable sum but it will make the world a better place to live in for the longer term.

TNB Energy Services will not only be busy in the country as it also planned to expand its business abroad, specifically to the Middle East.

In this regard, it is looking into ways to work with government-linked companies that have been successful in their ventures in the Middle East.

There is also a possibility that it might form a special purpose vehicle to undertake the foreign jobs.
- BERNAMA

LONDON: Commodity prices faced a choppy week as further stimulus tapering from the Federal Reserve and turmoil across emerging markets overshadowed solid fourth-quarter economic growth in the United States.

The Fed said Wednesday that it will reduce its bond-buying or quantitative easing (QE) programme by $10 billion to $65 billion a month, citing a pick-up in the economy.

The news sent emerging market currencies plunging in India, South Africa and Turkey, despite a raft of interest rate hikes.

Sentiment won a boost Thursday as official data showed the US economy - a key consumer of raw materials - grew 3.2 percent in October-December, beating predictions of 3.0 percent.

OIL: New York prices rallied to the highest level so far this year on forecast-beating fourth-quarter economic growth in the United States, which is the world's biggest crude consuming nation.

Crude futures also soared on higher demand for heating fuel thanks to recent cold weather in the United States.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate surged on Thursday to $98.59 per barrel, the highest point since January 2.

Prices tailed off Friday on weak Chinese data in subdued deals, with most Asian markets shut for the Lunar New Year holiday.

"With Chinese markets closed for the majority of the coming week and fears of emerging market contagion spreading from Turkey, Argentina and India as they struggle to control inflation, investors may opt to remain on the sidelines," added Sucden analyst Kash Kamal.

By Friday on London's Intercontinental Exchange, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in March stood at $107.18 a barrel from $107.24 a week earlier.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate or light sweet crude for March rallied to $97.84 a barrel compared with $96.64 a week earlier.

Metals hit by firm dollar, stimulus reduction

PRECIOUS METALS: Prices fell as the dollar rose following news of US stimulus reduction and upbeat growth.

The news also weighed on gold because many investors argue that QE fuels higher inflation. The glamorous metal is widely regarded as a hedge against inflation.

Platinum and palladium meanwhile hit one-month lows at $1,366.75 and $704.50 respectively, despite ongoing strikes in major producer South Africa.

"Precious metals are once again finding themselves in the red as the week draws to a close," said analyst Fawad Razaqzada at online trading firm Forex.com.

"The main reason for their sluggish performance is to do with the firmer US dollar which has gained ground on the back of the upbeat GDP print and after the Fed tapered QE by an additional $10 billion."

The stronger greenback makes dollar-priced goods more expensive and tends to sap demand.

By late Friday on the London Bullion Market, the price of gold fell to $1,251 an ounce from $1,267 a week earlier.

Silver dipped to $19.31 an ounce from $20.19.

On the London Platinum and Palladium Market, platinum slid to $1,382 an ounce from $1,443.
Palladium slipped to $707 an ounce from $745.

BASE METALS: Base or industrial metals prices sank as traders also fretted over turmoil in emerging markets and the outlook for Chinese demand.

"Copper prices look set to close lower for the fifth week in succession as fears about another Chinese slowdown, combined with reduced demand from emerging markets, as the current turmoil starts to create a drag on growth prospects in the region," added analyst Hewson.

Chinese manufacturing contracted for the first time in six months in January, HSBC confirmed Thursday, raising questions over growth prospects for the world's second-largest economy this year.

The banking giant's final reading of China's purchasing managers' index (PMI), which tracks manufacturing activity in factories and workshops, fell to 49.5 this month.

It was its lowest figure since July and fractionally below the preliminary 49.6 reading HSBC announced last week.

The index is a closely watched gauge of the health of the Asian economic powerhouse. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while anything below signals contraction.

By Friday on the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months slid to $7,063 a tonne from $7,210.50 week earlier.

Three-month aluminium fell to $1,713.50 a tonne from $1,768.

Three-month lead retreated to $2,108 a tonne from $2,152.
Three-month tin dropped to $21,925 a tonne from $22,000.

Sugar sank to 14.70 US cents per pound in New York, the lowest point since June 2010.

In London, the commodity touched the weakest level since April 2009, at $399.10 a tonne.

"With sugar prices stuck in freefall since mid-October 2013, the recent events in emerging markets, particularly in Argentina, have led to concerns of contagion to Brazil and further pressure on sugar prices," said Societe Generale analyst Christopher Narayanan.

"For the moment, then, sugar prices remain pressured by a larger than expected global surplus, a strong start to the Thai harvest, uncertainty surrounding India's export policy and support programmes, and tepid demand."

By Friday on LIFFE, the price of a tonne of white sugar for March rose to $410.50 from $404.90 a week earlier.

On New York's ICE Futures US exchange, the price of unrefined sugar for delivery in March eased to 15.04 US cents a pound from 15.05.

COCOA: Prices zoomed to their highest levels in more than two and a half years on the prospect of another production deficit this year.

The commodity, which is mostly used to make chocolate, rallied this week to 1,865 in London and $2,933 in New York, reaching levels last witnessed in September 2011.

By Friday on LIFFE, London's futures exchange, cocoa for delivery in March rose to 1,861 a tonne from 1,778 a week earlier.

On ICE Futures US, cocoa for March increased to $2,921 a tonne from $2,806.

COFFEE: Coffee futures rebounded from the precious week's losses.

Prices jumped to a six-month high at $1,825 in London. They also reached 123.45 cents in New York, which was the best level so far this year.

"Coffee futures moved higher ... amid short covering following recent lows," said analysts at industry publication The Public Ledger.

By Friday on the ICE Futures US exchange, Arabica for delivery in March rallied to 121.60 US cents a pound from 114.50 cents a week earlier.

On LIFFE, Robusta for March gained to $1,801 a tonne from $1,700.

RUBBER: Prices in Kuala Lumpur fell as the ringgit strengthened against the US dollar, while jitters persisted over slowing growth in top consumer China.

The Malaysian Rubber Board's benchmark SMR20 fell to 193.20 US cents a kilo from 213.70 cents a week earlier.

TOKYO: Tokyo investors will keep a close eye on US data next week and more Japanese corporate earnings with firms including Sony, Toyota and Panasonic due to report.

After the Federal Reserve this week reduced its stimulus programme by another $10 billion a month to $65 billion, following a similar cut in December, investors will be looking for more clues about the state of the worlds' biggest economy.

While the US central bank cited a firming US economy for the wind-down, the announcement rattled emerging markets such as India, South Africa and Russia on fears of a capital flight, which in turn sent their currencies diving.

That helped boost the yen, a safe-haven currency in times of turmoil.

"Investors are seemingly taking profits ahead of this weekend as the yen firmed slightly," said Hiroaki Hiwata, strategist at Toyo Securities.

"Looking ahead, the US economic recovery will be the main focus as the majority of Asian markets are closed for Lunar New Year holidays. Domestically, share prices will depend on each company's earnings report."

On Friday, Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei-225 index slipped 92.53 points to finish at 14,914.53. The Nikkei lost 3.10 percent over the week.

The broader Topix index of all first-section shares ended down 0.28 percent, or 3.45 points, at 1,220.64.

It lost 3.48 percent over the week.

On currency markets, the dollar bought 102.47 yen in late Asian trade, down from 102.71 yen in New York but firmer than the 102.30 yen earlier Thursday in Asia.

Japanese corporate earnings for the nine months to December have seen mixed results so far with many notching up stronger profits thanks to a weak yen inflating their bottom line.

Among major shares in Tokyo, Fujitsu soared 12.89 percent to 578 yen after the sprawling IT conglomerate said Thursday it had swung back to profit in the three months to December thanks to a weaker yen and brisk sales in PCs and networking services for public and business customers.

NEC rocketed 10.74 percent to 299 yen on the sale of a mobile carrier unit -despite falling into the red in the nine months to December - mainly because of restructuring costs and a drop in sales after it left the smartphone business.

AFTER 56 years of independence, Kuala Lumpur, as Malaysia's capital, has grown in leaps and bounds.

First declared a city 40 years ago, it has seen its skyline evolve with more and more skyscrapers dominating the view.

Through the years, development has taken its toll on some residential areas and heritage buildings, while others have been preserved as reminders of the past.

Older residents still have fond memories of iconic eateries or favourite hang-outs that are no longer in existence. However, some still remain and are as popular as ever.

StarMetro visited some of these old establishments that have stood the test of time to find out more about their heritage.

One not-to-be missed venue is Yut Kee restaurant in Jalan Dang Wangi, which has borne witness to the city changing around it since it began operations in 1928.

The iconic Yut Kee Restaurant on Jalan Dang Wangi will be moving to another location soon.

Owner Jack Lim, the second generation of the family to run the outlet, said Kuala Lumpur had gone through many changes since he took over the business in 1970.

"I still recall that this part of Kuala Lumpur was on the outskirts of the city back then. There were a lot of houses behind this shop, where Kampung Doraisamy was located.

"Most of the wooden houses were removed and destroyed due to floods and a fire before the 1970s and that was when new buildings were built.

"Back then, our customers were mostly nearby residents but now, workers make up most of the customers," he said.

Lim said there was a theatre, restaurant and a hotel in the area before Capsquare was built.

"Those were the only forms of entertainment back then, aside from the Bukit Bintang Park.

"There was a race course where Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre now sits, but it was relocated to Sungai Besi.

"The 77-year-old Le Coq D'or restaurant, better known as Bok House, is now demolished because it was said to hold no historical value," Lim said.

Lim has relocated his business to a shoplot behind the current location in Jalan Kemunting as the building is scheduled for redevelopment.

"There is a lot of nostalgia attached to this restaurant. However, I plan to preserve as much of the traditional physical elements as I can when I move to the new premises," he said.

Not just restaurants

Some of the notable landmarks in Kuala Lumpur include the country's first hotel, Federal Hotel, and one of the earliest shopping malls, Sungei Wang plaza.

Sungei Wang Plaza marketing communications manager Carina Chow, who has worked with the mall for more than 35 years, said some of the iconic landmarks around the mall that had vanished were the Bukit Bintang Girl's School (BBGS), Pudu Jail and the Bukit Bintang market.

Sungei Wang Plaza marketing communications manager Carina Chow.

"It was rather a different lifestyle in Kuala Lumpur back then as there used to be squatter houses along Jalan Thambi Dollah and the residents would usually hang out in the market or in Sungei Wang.

"Another iconic landmark is the Federal Hotel with its rotating restaurant," she said.

When tourism started picking up in the early 1990's, the number of tourists frequenting Kuala Lumpur also increased.

"The tourism authorities did not work much with shopping centres in the beginning but it started to bloom in mid 1980s and early 1990s.

"We will be supporting the Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism (MCAT) this year and will collaborate with a college to promote art from July to September," she said.

Getting around

Located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Hong Ngek Restaurant has also experienced its fair share of change and owner Liew Hing Ling said one of the notable developments was the growth of transportation.

"Although the old buildings surrounding the restaurant did not change much, the accessibility definitely increased.

"There was less traffic then but now, with the construction of LRT and MRT, more people are being channelled to the city centre," she said.